THE RAILWAY VOTE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3663, 22 September 1880, Page 2

THE RAILWAY VOTE.

A joint meeting of the Railway Committee, and tbe members of the Borough and County Councils N was held immediately afterwards.

Mr W. McCullough was in the chair, and explained the object of the meeting. It was, be said, well known that a vote of £16,000 had been passed by the House for the continuation of the Thames and Waikato railway, and as it was most desirable that that sum should be spent at once, the Railway Committee were of opinion that if the local authorities were to act in concert with the Committee, in any representation to the Government, the desired result would the more likely be secured. Besides the matter of the vote there was a question yet unsettled, whether there was not a sum of money at the disposal of the Government from previous votes for this end of the line that should be expended in extending the line towards Pacroa. These matters should be laid before tbe Government, and all possible influence brought to bear to have works on the line commenced. There was no two opinions on one point, however, and that was that the £16,000 should be expended, and as in all such cases, it is wise to look after our own interests, then the sooner steps were taken the belter. He suggested that a deputation should wait upon Mr Whitaker in Auckland, and the intentions of the Government be ascertained. Mr Speight said as the vote was for the Hamilton end of the line, it was no use to ask for it for this end. Mr Brodie remarked : Get it spent, no | matter which end, it would be a step onward. . I Mr Speight was of opinion that a claim should be made for a share of the £75,000 voted by Parliament for the unemployed. The. money had been voted to afford work on railway works for the unemployed, and the Thames people could very justly go to Government and demand that a portion of the money should be expended in extending the railway to the head of the navigation. After further discussion, it was resolved on the motion of Mr Porter, seconded. by Mr Carpenter, that the Mayor, County Chairman, Messrs Speight, Porter, and McCullough should proceed to Auckland on Friday, and interview the AttorneyGeneral on the subject. This concluded the business.